VeoRide leaves Purdue after University signs exclusivity contract with Zagster

A bike-share program started in the Purdue Foundry is getting pushed off campus after Purdue signed an exclusivity contract with its competitor.

Posted: Jul 17, 2018 11:50 PM

Posted By: Alexis Moberger

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - A bike-share program started in the Purdue Foundry is getting pushed off campus after Purdue signed an exclusivity contract with its competitor. Starting Aug. 1 Zagster will be Purdue's only bike share program and the Purdue startup, VeoRide, is now moving its bikes and profits elsewhere.

For John Klich, grabbing a ride through a bike-share program has been his main way of getting around Purdue's campus.

"Purdue University has a really large campus, so it's been making getting to and from work a lot easier and less time consuming," said Klich.

However, starting this summer you'll only be able to find one bike-share program on Purdue's campus, instead of two. The bright teal bikes known as the VeoRide bike-share is ceasing its program at Purdue.

"I've still seen them around campus and I've seen people using them," said Klich.

However, Klich and others won't see VeoRide bikes around for much longer. Purdue signed an exclusivity contract with Massachusetts-based Zagster.

The VeoRide startup was launched by two Purdue grads and the Purdue Foundry back in October 2017. VeoRide launched its pilot program on campus, but the program never had a contract with Purdue.

"I sort of find that peculiar," said Klich. "I would think that the university would be a stronger advocate or support of a centrally funded and founded start up."

Over the next two weeks, VeoRide owners said they'll be clearing out all of the bikes still left on campus.

On Aug. 1, the contract between Zagster and Purdue will take effect. Zagster is expected to add more bikes to campus this fall.

So the questions is, will Zagster provide enough bikes on campus? For Klich he said he's not too worried.

"I can't speak when there's 30 more thousand students on campus. I haven't had issues. In the beginning I didn't know how to use the app so it was a little finicky but in terms of actual availability, I think they have been pretty accessible," said Klich.

VeoRide owners said they are now taking the bikes that were on campus and taking them to other places.

The program has already expanded to University of Kansas and New England College. However, VeoRide headquarters will still remain in West Lafayette.

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